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CTV News
3 days ago
- Climate
- CTV News
Manitoba plays the waiting game to get wildfire evacuees into hotels: Kinew
A reception centre for evacuees of the wildfires in northern Manitoba is being staffed by provincial Emergency Social Services, and the Canadian Red Cross at the Billy Mosienko Arena in Winnipeg, Thursday, May 29, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/David Lipnowski WINNIPEG — Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew says the province is playing the waiting game as it looks to get thousands of wildfire evacuees into hotels. Kinew told reporters at the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce today that more than 18-thousand people are already in hotels or are staying with family, but many remain in congregate shelters. He says getting those evacuees into private accommodations is a balancing act because many hotel rooms are being reserved for people with 'intense' medical issues. Officials say a trio of fires in northern Manitoba, including near the city of Flin Flon, have merged into a single massive fire just shy of 300 square kilometres in size. The City of Flin Flon on social media says no structures have been lost in the city or in nearby Creighton, Sask. They say winds are blowing from the south and are causing heavy smoke and fire to move towards the south side of Flin Flon. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 6, 2025. The Canadian Press
Winnipeg Free Press
30-05-2025
- General
- Winnipeg Free Press
Immediate support offered to evacuees: Kinew
As 17,000 Manitobans flee for their lives with little more than the shirts on their backs, some take shelter in hotels and motels, arenas or with family and friends. Where they end up depends on what they need, Premier Wab Kinew said Friday. 'The first principle is that this is one Manitoba,' Kinew said at a wildfire briefing Friday as the threat worsened. The province offered Emergency Social Services support for the mandatory evacuees right away rather than expecting municipalities or local authorities to support their residents for a minimum 72 hours, as guidelines dictate. MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS 'It's important that people register as an evacuee if they have been told to leave their community,' Premier Wab Kinew said Friday. 'Given the scale of the situation here, the department of families has decided to waive 72-hour period, and we're going to help people immediately,' Kinew told the legislative assembly on Thursday. Emergency Social Services are provided on a short-term basis 'to preserve the emotional and physical well-being of evacuees and response workers in emergency situations.' The province's first priority is to ensure accommodations and food are provided to people fleeing a disaster. For those who don't stay with family and friends, staff are focused on accommodations in congregate facilities where food and shelter is provided, a spokesman for the provincial government said Friday. 'Many evacuees have already been receiving support, and as people register, the province is working with the Canadian Red Cross to ensure everyone receives supports,' he said without providing numbers or details. 'It's important that people register as an evacuee if they have been told to leave their community.' They can register online or at a reception centre. 'The reception centre I was at (Thursday) had folks who were coming from the city of Flin Flon but also Pukatawagan Cree Nation,' the premier said Friday. People from First Nations would get federal support and others, including Flin Flon residents, would get provincial support, Kinew said. Sent weekly from the heart of Turtle Island, an exploration of Indigenous voices, perspectives and experiences. 'There's just one desk where people are checking in, getting registered and getting assigned supports. When we get to who's staying with friends and family that's effectively self-selected.' He said a lot evacuees are going to head to congregate shelters. 'The hotel rooms in the province are very, very hard to come by right now and that's because of the previous evacuations, because of other folks just having their business conferences, vacations,' the premier said. 'Where we do have access to hotel rooms is being prioritized for medical patients and (those with) accessibility issues and for who staying in a cot in a congregate setting might be a challenge.' Carol SandersLegislature reporter Carol Sanders is a reporter at the Free Press legislature bureau. The former general assignment reporter and copy editor joined the paper in 1997. Read more about Carol. Every piece of reporting Carol produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Global News
29-05-2025
- General
- Global News
Reception centre set up in Winnipeg for wildfire evacuees
With thousands of wildfire evacuees expected to arrive in Winnipeg, the province has opened a reception centre in the city for those who are in need of a place to stay. Those who do not have a spot can head to the Billy Mosienko Arena at 709 Keewatin Street where provincial Emergency Social Services and the Canadian Red Cross are staffing the centre. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy All evacuees are encouraged to register online at or by calling 1-800-863-6582 between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. More than 17,000 people from communities like Flin Flon, Pimicikamak Cree Nation, Marcel Colomb First Nation, Mathias Colomb Cree Nation have been ordered to evacuate due to wildfires continuing to spread, and cutting off key access points.
Global News
28-04-2025
- General
- Global News
Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service battles two overnight blazes
The Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service responded to two fires reported within a minute of each other early Monday morning. Crews received a report of a fire in a multi-family residence in the 300 block of Boyd Avenue at 3:05 a.m. The building's occupants evacuated and no one was injured. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Firefighters had the fire under control at 3:37 a.m., and the city's Emergency Social Services team supported the displaced residents. At 3:06 a.m., the WFPS responded to calls of a fire in the 600 block of Broadway Avenue. The two-storey commercial building, a former hair salon, was ablaze until 3:58 a.m. when crews declared the fire under control. The causes of both fires are under investigation.
